There have been some great individual performances on the water from the US Sailing Team in 2005. Sailors have put up 30 podium results in major Olympic and Paralympic Class events this past year, including four World Championships and the USA currently has the reigning World Champion in three of the 14 Olympic and Paralympic Class events.

'There have been some great individual performances on the water from the US Sailing Team in 2005. Our sailors have put up 30 podium results in major Olympic and Paralympic Class events this past year, including four World Championships. The U.S. currently has the reigning World Champion in 3 of the 14 Olympic and Paralympic Class events. PaigeRAILEYhas dominated the Laser Radial Class winning the Worlds, Europeans, Youth Worlds, and a host of other events. SallyBARKOW, Deb CAPOZZI and Carrie HOWE have won almost everything they've sailed this year, including the Yngling World Championship, the ISAF Women's Match Racing World Championship, and US SAILING's Rolex International Women's Keelboat Championship. And Nick SCANDONE made a huge statement with his victory in the 2.4mR Open World Championship.

'In addition, U.S. sailors put up great results in the 49er, 470, Tornado, Star, 2.4mR, and Laser. We have some athletes who have been around for a while who are still performing at a high level, and we also have a new generation of talent that has stepped up and begun to establish their own identity. This has been a great year on the water for the U.S. Olympic Sailing Programme, and our athletes deserve enormous credit for committing to Olympic Sailing and delivering results.

'In addition, our Programme has had some other goals and initiatives we have been pursuing, all driven by our desire to provide better support for our athletes on the water. One year ago, the new Olympic Sailing Committee took on the task of making dramatic improvements in the U.S. Olympic Sailing Programme. Today, one year into the current quad, the U.S. Olympic Programme is healthy and strong.

'We have begun to deliver on our Programme's four strategic goals:

1. Make dramatic increases in funding. Our 2006 budget will be 20% larger than 2005, and we have raised more than $750,000 in gifts and pledges in 2005.

2. Manage our existing resources better. We squeezed every dollar out of the 2005 budget and redirected an unprecedented amount of money directly into our athletes' pockets. Almost 75% of every dollar goes DIRECTLY to our athletes, and the rest of the budget also contains many other direct and indirect benefits as well. We finished 2005 ahead of budget on BOTH revenues and expenses.

3. Put everyone in the Programme on the same page. We have worked very hard to open the lines of communication with our athletes, coaches, donors, sponsors, staff and volunteers. It is paying off. We have a clear direction. We have good communication. And our athletes are telling us they like where we are going. Many of our top athletes have given us testimonials and endorsements about the Programme that are helping us raise funds.

4. Focus on Youth Development. In 2006 we will be rolling out a major fundraising initiative specifically focused on Youth Development. We spent 2005 asking a lot of questions, doing a lot of thinking and making significant plans.

'We also continue to have a fantastic family of corporate sponsors - Rolex Watch U.S.A., Vanguard Sailboats, Nautica, Gill, Extrasport, Harken, Team McLube, New England Ropes, Nikon, Sperry Top-Sider, Vineyard Vines and Zodiac. They give us critical forms of support, and we are forever grateful of their support. But we need to keep improving our Programme and our product so that we can grow this family.

'We have plenty of work left to do. We need to keep increasing our budget. We have many athletes who are not yet getting the support they need. We need more coaching. We need a lot more things. But we are now pointing towards the windward mark and making great progress every day. We are managing our resources well and have a great message that is resonating with donors, supporters and corporate sponsors.

'The Olympic and Paralympic Games are less than three years away. We'll be ready.'

Tom Burton (AUS) and Alison Young (GBR) hit the right note in the Laser and Laser Radial at ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne as they took out the top honours and qualification spots to the 2015 ISAF Sailing World Cup Final.

It was double Australian gold in the Paralympic classes. Matt Bugg (AUS) came out on top in the 2.4mR whilst London 2012 Paralympic SKUD18 gold medallists Dan Fitzgibbon and Liesl Tesch (AUS) were triumphant in the two person keelboat.

Lithuania's Juozas Bernotas came out on top in the Men's RS:X whilst Russia's Stefania Elfutina was triumphant in the Women's RS:X. Both sailors claim the first Abu Dhabi ISAF Sailing World Cup Final spots whilst Jock Calvert (AUS) and Joanna Sterling (AUS) picked up the Oceanic spots for the Emirati finale.

There was some fast paced action in the 49er and 49erFX Medal Races at ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne as Nathan Outteridge & Iain Jensen (AUS) and Maia & Ragna Agerup (NOR) claimed the honours and Abu Dhabi final spots.

A tight group of five young Papua New Guinean (PNG) Laser sailors are stepping up their 2015 Pacific Games competition program using this week's ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne. PNG is one of 33 countries represented at the important Oceanic event, the largest Olympic sailing regatta in the southern hemisphere.

Nicolai Sehested (DEN) and his TREFOR Match Racing Team clinched victory today at the Energa Sopot Match Race, Poland, the 10th stage and World Championship Event of the 2015 World Match Racing Tour (WMRT).

There was no stopping current, and five-time ISAF Match Racing World Champion Ian Williams (GBR), GAC Pindar today at the Energa Sopot Match Race as he swiftly dispatched his Quarter Final opponent Joachim Aschenbrenner (DEN) in three straight wins.

The International Sailing Federation (ISAF) continues to address concerns and is taking steps to ensure the health and safety of all athletes who will be competing in the upcoming Aquece Rio, Olympic Test Event and the Rio 2016 Olympic Sailing Competition.

Veteran Polish match racer and America's Cup helmsman Karol Jablonski skilfully played the gusty conditions today to lead the twelve strong field of teams at the end of Day 2 of Qualifying at the 2015 Energa Sopot Match Race.